Please allow me to indulge myself in a little sports talk this morning. After all, the NBA draft is tonight and hoops is a passion of mine...I still can play at a pretty high level and I love watching the game - both college and pro!
I have been brewing on one particular player in this year's NBA draft, Tyler Hansbrough. For those that might not be aware, Tyler Hansbrough, 24, played all four years at University of North Carolina. He is a former college player of the year with TWO National Championship titles - he is 6'-9", 250 and would run through a brick wall is he were asked. His game is not what you would describe as smooth, but it is efficient and very effective.
On the commute home last night, I was reading the projected draft picks and could not believe my eyes when I saw Hansbrough projected to go in the 20's! The rub on Hansbrough is that he lacks "athleticism" and has limited "upside"...AT 24 YEARS OLD. "Upside" is the huge buzz-word lately....now, it appears, 24 is a bit too old and a little too risky for an NBA team!
Bryan Burwell wrote a great article today about Hansbrough...it's a quick read and is of the opinion that if Hansbrough were "a brother form Philly", with the exact same resume, his athleticism and upside would not be in question at all. I agree! The fact is, the NBA is comprised mostly of black players...and white guys definitely have a stigma attached to them for being slow or un-athletic...no matter how great they happen to be! For the record, Burwell is black...Hansbrough and I are white!
I certainly do not feel sorry for Tyler...he will get drafted and he will make BIG money...I will be jealous. Though, I do hope he becomes a great pro, as he was a college player, and proves that White Men CAN jump!
mj
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